Prevalence of self-reported back pain in school children: A study of sociodemographic differences

The study considers the prevalence of back pain experienced in a nationwide random sample of 2173 Icelandic school children aged 11–12 and 15–16. The study found a 20.6% prevalence of at least weekly back pain. The prevalence of back pain was significantly more frequent among the older children. No gender or class difference was found in the overall sample. Older children from rural areas have significantly more back pain than those living in the city. The need for a thorough epidemiological investigation of the association of back pain in children is emphasized.     

Kappa opioid receptors in rat spinal cord vary across the estrous cycle

Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) were immunocytochemically localized in the lumbosacral spinal cord of female rats in different stages of the estrous cycle to examine the influence of hormonal status on receptor density. KOR labeling was primarily in fine processes and a few neuronal cell bodies in the superficial dorsal horn and the dorsolateral funiculus. Quantitative light microscopic densitometry of the superficial dorsal horn revealed that rats in diestrus had significantly lower KOR densities than those in proestrus or estrus. This suggests that female reproductive hormones regulate spinal KOR levels, which may contribute to variations in analgesic effectiveness of KOR agonists across the estrous cycle.     

Leisure time physical activity and health-related quality of life: Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations

Studies that relate change in physical activity to change in health-related quality of life in the general population are needed to confirm associations suggested by cross-sectional studies. In the present study, cross-sectional as well as longitudinal associations between leisure time physical activity and health-related quality of life were studied in an apparently healthy population. The present study showed cross-sectional associations between at least moderately intense leisure time physical activity and general health perceptions, vitality, physical functioning and role limitations due to physical health problems. No associations were present for total leisure time physical activity. Change in leisure time physical activity was associated with change in social functioning in men as well as in women, irrespective of the intensity of physical activity. Only in men, change in total leisure time physical activity was associated with change in vitality and general mental health. In our study, cross-sectional associations were not confirmed by longitudinal analyses. Cross-sectional associations were mainly found for physical components of health-related quality of life, whereas longitudinal associations were predominantly observed for mental components of health-related quality of life. Confirmation of our results by those of other studies is needed in order to quantify health promotion messages.     

Two-stage versus one-stage sex reassignment surgery in female-to-male transsexual individuals

The objective was to compare the outcome of a combined total hysterectomy-vaginectomy-phalloplasty procedure vs. a vaginectomy-phalloplasty procedure in female-to-male (FTM) gender dysphoric individuals, and to report on a large series of vaginectomies in young women. This was a retrospective study and the setting was the Gender Team at Ghent University Hospital. One hundred and five consecutive cases of vaginectomy-phalloplasty with (one-stage) or without (two-stage) total hysterectomy between 1993 and 2003 were included in the study. Patient files of 69 one-stage and of 36 two-stage procedures were reviewed and analysed. Operation time, the need for transfusions, complications, repeated surgery and hospitalisation time were the main outcome measures. Patients were equally distributed over the study period of 10 years. Comparing the two groups, there was a greater need for transfusion in the group of patients undergoing the one-stage procedure. There was no difference in operation time, rate of major complications or hospitalisation time. One-stage sex reassignment surgery (SRS) in FTM transsexual individuals is associated with more blood loss. However, there is no difference in operative and postoperative complications. Vaginectomy seems to be a safe and relatively simple procedure in FTM transsexual patients.     

不同性别不同年龄成年人体成分测量指标的检测分析

目的探讨安徽省不同性别、不同年龄成年人体成分检测指标的差异,为安徽省成年人的健康指导及慢性疾病预防提供数据参考。方法选取2018年1～12月在安徽医科大学第一附属医院体检的4 944位体检者,按性别不同分为男性组2 556人和女性组2 388人;再对不同性别组按不同年龄(y)分为5组[18≤y <30岁组; 30≤y <40岁组; 40≤y <50岁组; 50≤y <60岁组;y≥60岁组(在男性中为60≤y≤83岁组,在女性中为60≤y≤81岁组)];比较男性组和女性组体成分测量指标(体质指数、体脂肪含量、体脂百分比、腰臀比、内脏脂肪面积、去脂体质量、骨骼肌肉量、骨矿物质含量、蛋白质含量及浮肿指数)差异,同时分析不同性别人群上述各项体成分测量指标在不同年龄层的变化。结果①女性组体脂肪含量、体脂百分比及浮肿指数均高于男性组,其余各项指标男性组均高于女性组,差异均有统计学意义(P <0. 05);②男性体质指数、体脂肪含量和腰臀比在30≤y <60岁各年龄组均高于18≤y <30岁组,差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05);体脂百分比、内脏脂肪面积和浮肿指数在y≥30岁各年龄组均高于18≤y <30岁组,差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05);去脂体质量、骨骼肌肉量、骨矿物质含量及蛋白质含量在y≥50岁各年龄组均低于18≤y <30岁组,差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05)。女性体质指数、腰臀比及内脏脂肪面积在y≥30岁各年龄组均高于18≤y <30岁组,差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05);体脂肪含量、体脂百分比及浮肿指数在y≥40岁各年龄组均高于18≤y <30岁组,差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05);去脂体质量、骨骼肌肉量、骨矿物质含量及蛋白质含量在y≥60岁组均低于18≤y <30岁组,差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05)。结论安徽省成年人体成分存在性别差异,女性体脂肪含量高于男性,男性内脏脂肪面积及骨骼肌肉量高于女性;成年人体成分在不同年龄间亦存在差异,脂肪组织含量及浮肿指数在高年龄段增加,而其他非脂肪组织含量在高年龄段减低。     

Neighborhoods matter; but for whom? Heterogeneity of neighborhood disadvantage on child obesity by sex

Although evidence suggests that neighborhood context, particularly socioeconomic context, influences child obesity, little is known about how these neighborhood factors may be heterogeneous rather than monolithic. Using a novel dataset comprised of the electronic medical records for over 250,000 children aged 2–17 nested within 992 neighborhoods in the greater Houston area, we assessed whether neighborhoods influenced the obesity of children differently based on sex. Results indicated that neighborhood disadvantage, assessed using a comprehensive, multidimensional, latent profile analysis-generated measure, had a strong, positive association with the odds of obesity for both boys and girls. Interactions revealed that the relationship between disadvantage and obesity was stronger for girls, relative to boys. Our findings demonstrated the complex dynamics underlying the influence of residential neighborhood context on obesity for specific subgroups of children.     

Characteristic Echocardiographic Manifestations of Behçet's Disease

The objective of this study was to determine the characteristic echocardiographic manifestations of Behçet's disease. Ninety-seven Behçet's patients admitted to our hospital from January 2002 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 63 patients (64.9%) with cardiac involvement; these included 47 men (74.6%) and 16 women (25.4%). Of these 63 patients, most (74.6%) exhibited valvular lesions, especially aortic regurgitation. The primary characteristic manifestations of valves were cusp prolapse with aneurysmal changes, vegetation-like lesions and echo-free spaces within the annulus. Second (30.0%) were aortic lesions, including aortic dilation or aneurysm formation, aortic pseudoaneurysm and coronary sinus aneurysm. Other manifestations, such as cardiac thrombosis, coronary arterial pseudoaneurysm, pulmonary aneurysm and pericardial effusion, were rare. Cardiac involvement is not uncommon in Behçet's patients, especially in males, and it is characterized by valvular disease, especially aortic regurgitation. The diagnosis of Behçet's disease should be considered when evaluating patients with these characteristic echocardiographic manifestations.     

Video gaming and gender differences in digital and printed reading performance among 15-year-olds students in 26 countries

Video games are a favorite leisure-time activity among teenagers worldwide. This study examines cross-national gender differences in reading achievement and video gaming and whether video gaming explains gender differences in reading achievement and differences in performance between paper-based and computer-based reading. We use data from a representative sample of 145,953 students from 26 countries who sat the PISA 2012 assessments and provided self-reports on use of video games. Although boys tend to have poorer results in both the computer-based and the paper-based reading assessments, boys' under achievement is smaller when the assessment is delivered on computer than when it is delivered on paper. Boys underperformance compared to girls in the two reading assessments is particularly pronounced among low-achieving students. Among both boys and girls moderate use of single-player games is associated with a performance advantage. However, frequent engagement with collaborative online games is generally associated with a steep reduction in achievement, particularly in the paper-based test and particularly among low-achieving students. Excessive gaming may hinder academic achievement, but moderate gaming can promote positive student outcomes. In many countries video gaming explains the difference in the gender gap in reading between the paper-based and the computer-based assessments.     

Genre et accidents vasculaires cérébraux à Brazzaville

BackgroundThe relationship between gender and cerebrovascular disease is controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between gender and vascular risk factors, biological variables and the severity of the neurological deficit in stroke.MethodsThis cross-sectional study, conducted from March to August 2011 in the department of neurology of the university hospital of Brazzaville which included all patients hospitalized for confirmed stroke. The study variables were: age, sex, vascular risk factors, NIHSS scores and Glasgow, blood pressure, and the biological exams and complications. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS12.ResultsEighty patients were included. The mean age was 62.7 ± 11.2 years, with 58.8% of men. Alcohol intake and smoking were more frequent in men than women respectively P = 0.005 and P = 0.032. Psychosocial stress was more often declared by women than men (P = 0.042). However there was no significant difference in biological variables, the severity of stroke and the occurrence of complicationsConclusionOur study suggests that in the Congolese context, gender does not influence significantly most parameters during stroke, but men consume more alcohol and women are exposed to psychosocial stress.